Data recording/reproducing apparatus and program recorded medium

ABSTRACT

Management in a disk according to conventional techniques is effective in only one recording area which is the entire disk, and therefore, it has been heretofore impossible to manage files by data type. 
     A data recording/reproducing apparatus comprises recording area setting means  50  of setting a plurality of logical recording areas in a recording medium, and file management means  60  which manages files with reference to free area management information, recording file management information and deletion file selecting criteria information, and data recording/reproducing apparatus is characterized in that when judging that a free area for writing the new data is insufficient, the file management means  60 , referring to the deletion file selecting criteria information, deletes a portion or all of at least one file or does not execute an operation for writing the new data.

THIS APPLICATION IS A U.S. NATIONAL PHASE APPLICATION OF PCTINTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PCT/JP00/07448.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a data recording/reproducing apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

First, a structure of a data recording/reproducing apparatus accordingto a conventional technique will be described with reference to FIG. 19.FIG. 19 is a structure diagram of a data recording/reproducing apparatusaccording to a conventional technique.

An interface circuit 10 is a portion which supplies digital AV signals,instructions and responses to and receives the digital AV signals, theinstructions and the responses from digital AV equipment 80.

A system controller 20 is a device which presides over and controls eachmeans which forms the data recording/reproducing apparatus, controllingso that a digital AV signal which is supplied through the interfacecircuit 10 or an encoder circuit 40 is recorded on a disk 31 and suchthat the digital AV signal recorded on the disk 31 is outputted throughthe interface circuit 10 or a decoder circuit 41. Meanwhile, the systemcontroller 20 controls such that the digital AV signal which is recordedon the disk 31 is saved and deleted in the unit of files.

A buffer control circuit 21 is a circuit which outputs the digital AVsignal, which is supplied through the interface circuit 10 or theencoder circuit 40, to recording/reproducing means 30 after temporarilystoring the digital AV signal in a buffer RAM 22, and outputs thedigital AV signal to the interface circuit 10 or the decoder circuit 41after temporarily storing the digital AV signal supplied from therecording/reproducing means 30 in the buffer RAM 22, to thereby ensurecontinues recording or continuous reproduction of the AV signal.

The buffer RAM 22 is a device which has a function as a register to readout temporarily saved data in accordance with a necessity.

The recording/reproducing means 30 is means of recording the digital AVsignal received from the buffer control circuit 21 on the disk 31, andreproducing the digital AV signal recorded on the disk 31 and outputtingto the buffer control circuit 21.

The encoder circuit 40 is a circuit which encodes an inputted analog AVsignal. The decoder circuit 41 is a circuit which decodes the digital AVsignal outputted by the recording/reproducing means 30 and supplies theanalog AV signal to a reproducing apparatus (not shown) to therebyreproduce images and sounds.

File management means 260 is means of referring to and updating freearea management information, recording file management information,deletion file selecting criteria information and the like to therebymanage reproduction, saving, deletion, etc., of files, issuing aninstruction to the system controller 20 so that an entered digital AVsignal is recorded on the disk 31 in the unit of files and the digitalAV signal recorded on the disk 31 is reproduced in the unit of files.Further, the file management means 260 issues an instruction to thesystem controller 20 so that the digital AV signal recorded on the disk31 is deleted in the unit of files. The free area managementinformation, the recording file management information, and the deletionfile selecting criteria information will be described later.

Deletion file selecting criteria information setting means 261 is meanswhich is for a user to set up the deletion file selecting criteriainformation which is for selecting a file which is to be deleted as newdata are written (hereinafter referred to as “delete candidate”). Adeletion file selecting criteria herein described in relation to theconventional technique is the number of viewing and the recording time.

The digital AV equipment 80 is equipment which supplies the digital AVsignal, an instruction and a response to and receives the digital AVsignal, the command and the response from the interface circuit 10 ofthe data recording/reproducing apparatus.

Operations of the data recording/reproducing apparatus according to theconventional technique having such a structure will be described withreference to FIG. 19.

In response to a user's instruction, the deletion file selectingcriteria information setting means 261 provides the file managementmeans 260 with the deletion file selecting criteria information which isfor selecting a file which is to be deleted as new data are written. Asherein described, the deletion file selecting criteria informationsetting means 261 notifies the file management means 260 of such setupwhich requires to first delete a file which bears the number of viewingof 1 or more and the earliest recording start time.

Next, a description will be given on an operation of the datarecording/reproducing apparatus according to the conventional techniqueas the digital AV equipment 80 receives data as a signal. The datareferred to here are data to be saved on the disk 31 as a file FID1whose size is 4 GB.

The digital AV equipment 80 outputs to the data recording/reproducingapparatus this data to be recorded and the volume of this data to berecorded, as a signal. The system controller 20 analyzes the signalwhich is supplied through the digital AV equipment 80, and notifies thefile management means 260 that this data are data which are to be savedas a 4 GB file.

The file management means 260 determines to save the data suppliedthrough the digital AV equipment 80 as a signal on the disk 31 as thefile FID1, and instructs the system controller 20 to execute this.

Receiving the instruction which was outputted as a signal from the filemanagement means 260, the system controller 20 writes the data suppliedthrough the digital AV equipment 80 on the disk 31 as the file FID1, andnotifies the file management means 260 of this.

The data recording/reproducing apparatus according to the conventionaltechnique writes data in a manner described above. An operation forwriting is similar to the writing operation already described earlier,when a free capacity in the disk 31 is larger than the size of datawhich are to be newly written.

The data recording/reproducing apparatus according to the conventionaltechnique keeps writing data on the disk 31 which is loaded in therecording/reproducing means 30 in this manner, so that the files FID1,FID2, FID3, . . . FID999 are saved on the disk 31. Therecording/reproducing means 30 in some cases outputs data saved as afile on the disk 31 through the decoder circuit 41, in response to aninstruction from a user (so that the user views the data saved as a fileon the disk 31). Further, as described in detail later, the number ofoutputting is described as the number of viewing in the recording filemanagement information.

The file management means 260 holds the free area management informationand the recording file management information. The free area managementinformation contains a recording capacity, a recorded capacity and afree capacity, whereas the recording file management informationcontains recording area information, the recording start time, a filesize and the number of viewing, both of which are as shown in FIG. 20.FIG. 20 shows charts of the free area management information and therecording file management information updated according to theconventional technique.

Next, a description will be given on operations of the datarecording/reproducing apparatus according to the conventional techniqueas the digital AV equipment 80 receives new data as a signal. The newdata are data to be saved on the disk 31 as a file FID1000 whose size is5 GB.

The digital AV equipment 80 outputs to the data recording/reproducingapparatus this new data which are to be recorded and the volume of thisdata to be recorded, as a signal. The system controller 20 analyzes thesignal supplied from the digital AV equipment 80, and notifies the filemanagement means 260 that this data are data which are to be saved as a5 GB file.

The file management means 260 refers to the free area managementinformation which is shown in FIG. 20, and recognizes that a freecapacity in the disk 31 is 2 GB which is smaller than the size of thefile (5 GB) which is to be newly saved.

The file management means 260 recognizes that the file FID1 which bearsthe number of viewing of 1 or larger and the oldest recording time is adelete candidate, determines to delete the file FID1 and ensure a freearea of 6 GB in total so that the data received as the signal throughthe digital AV equipment 80 will be written on the disk 31 as the fileFID1000, and issues an instruction to delete FID1 to the systemcontroller 20.

Receiving the instruction outputted as the signal from the filemanagement means 260, the system controller 20 deletes FID1 and writesthe data newly supplied through the digital AV equipment 80 on the disk31 as the file FID1000. The system controller 20 notifies the filemanagement means 260 of this.

Upon receipt of the notification from the system controller 20, the filemanagement means 260 updates the free area management information andthe recording file management information which are shown in FIG. 20respectively into such free area management information and recordingfile management information as those shown in FIG. 21. FIG. 21 showscharts of the free area management information and the recording filemanagement information updated in the conventional technique.

By the way, the recent years have seen development of a disk devicemounting an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). Recording capacities and datatransfer speeds of data recording/reproducing apparatuses areaccordingly rapidly improving. This has led to easy realization ofrecording and reproduction of a plurality types of data, such as videodata, audio data and still image data, using only one datarecording/reproducing apparatus.

However, since management in a disk according to conventional techniquesis effective in only one recording area, it has been heretoforeimpossible to manage files by data type.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Considering such problems, the present invention aims at providing adata recording/reproducing apparatus which is characterized inperforming management, such as saving and deletion of files,appropriately by data type.

One aspect of the present invention is a data recording/reproducingapparatus, comprising:

-   -   recording area setting means of setting a plurality of logical        recording areas in a recording medium which is for recording and        reproducing data; and    -   file management means which refers to free area management        information, which is for managing a free area capacity for each        one of said recording areas, recording file management        information, which is for managing a file to be recorded for        each one of said recording areas, and deletion file selecting        criteria information, which is for selecting a file to be        deleted for each one of said recording areas, and executes        management of said files,    -   being characterized in that for writing of new data in a        predetermined recording area, when said file management means        judges that a free area for writing said new data is        insufficient with reference to said free area management        information, said file management means, referring to said        deletion file selecting criteria information, deletes a portion        or all of at least one file which is recorded in said        predetermined recording area or does not execute an operation        for writing said new data.

Another aspect of the present invention is a data recording/reproducingapparatus in accordance with said first invention, characterized in thatwhen not executing writing of said new data, said file management meansnotifies to outside that writing of said new data is not executed, andaccepts an instruction in response to the notification from outside.

Still another aspect of the present invention is a datarecording/reproducing apparatus in accordance with said first invention,characterized in comprising deletion file selecting criteria informationsetting means which is for a user to set up said deletion file selectingcriteria information for each one of said recording areas.

Yet another aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 4)is a data recording/reproducing apparatus in accordance with said firstinvention, characterized in that said files are grouped in accordancewith a predetermined criteria, said file management means, when deletinga portion or all of at least one file which is recorded in saidpredetermined recording area, deletes the file which is to be deleted aswell as other files which belong to the same group as the file which isto be deleted.

Still yet another aspect of the present invention is a datarecording/reproducing apparatus in accordance with any one of said firstthrough fourth inventions, characterized in that a classification ofsaid data which are to be written is different for each one of saidrecording areas, and said data recording/reproducing apparatus comprisesdata classification information setting means which is for a user to setup, for each one of said recording areas, data classificationinformation which is for setting up a classification of data which areto be written.

A further aspect of the present invention is a medium which ischaracterized in that it can be handled with a computer andcharacterized in carrying a program and/or data which is for executingwith a computer all or some functions of all or some means of a datarecording/reproducing apparatus in accordance with any one of said firstthrough fifth claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a structure diagram of a data recording/reproducing apparatusdescribed in relation to a first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 shows charts of data classification information and deletion fileselecting criteria information described in relation to the firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a chart of free area management information described inrelation to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows charts of free area management information and recordingfile management information described in relation to the first preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a chart and a diagram showing free area managementinformation described in relation to the first preferred embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 shows charts of recording file management information describedin relation to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a chart of free area management information described inrelation to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows charts of recording file management information describedin relation to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows a chart of free area management information described inrelation to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows charts of recording file management information describedin relation to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 shows a chart of free area management information described inrelation to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows charts of recording file management information describedin relation to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a diagram of a data recording/reproducing apparatus describedin relation to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 shows charts of data classification information and deletionfile selecting criteria information described in relation to the secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 shows charts of free area management information and recordingfile management information described in relation to the secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 shows charts of free area management information and recordingfile management information described in relation to the secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 shows charts of free area management information and recordingfile management information described in relation to the secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a diagram of a data recording/reproducing apparatus andperipheral equipment described in relation to the preferred embodimentsof the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a diagram of a data recording/reproducing apparatus accordingto a conventional technique;

FIG. 20 shows charts of free area management information and recordingfile management information according to the conventional technique; and

FIG. 21 shows charts of free area management information and recordingfile management information according to the conventional technique.

EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE SYMBOLS

10 interface circuit 20 system controller 21 buffer control circuit 22buffer RAM 30 recording/reproducing means 31 disk 40 encoder circuit 41decoder circuit 50 recording area setting means 60 file management means61 deletion file selecting criteria information setting means 62 dataclassification information setting means 70 display/manipulation means80 digital AV equipment 160 file management means 161 deletion fileselecting criteria information setting means 162 data classificationinformation setting means 170 display/manipulation means 180 PC 181 STB260 file management means 261 deletion file selecting criteriainformation setting means

BEST MODE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed.

First Preferred Embodiment

First, a structure of a data recording/reproducing apparatus accordingto a first preferred embodiment will be described with reference toFIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a structure diagram of the data recording/reproducingapparatus according to the first preferred embodiment.

An interface circuit 10 comprises an input terminal for receiving adigital AV signal (not shown), serving as a portion which suppliesdigital AV signals, instructions and responses to and receives thedigital AV signals, the instructions and the responses from digital AVequipment 80. In the first preferred embodiment, the digital AVequipment 80 and the interface circuit 10 are connected with an IEEE1394bus.

A system controller 20 is a device which presides over and controls eachmeans which forms the data recording/reproducing apparatus, controllingso that a digital AV signal which is supplied through the interfacecircuit 10 or an encoder circuit 40 is recorded on a disk 31 and suchthat the digital AV signal recorded on the disk 31 is outputted throughthe interface circuit 10 or a decoder circuit 41. Meanwhile, the systemcontroller 20 controls such that the digital AV signal which is recordedon the disk 31 is saved and deleted in the unit of files.

A buffer control circuit 21 is a circuit which outputs the digital AVsignal, which is supplied through the interface circuit 10 or theencoder circuit 40, to recording/reproducing means 30 after temporarilystoring the digital AV signal in a buffer RAM 22, and outputs thedigital AV signal to the interface circuit 10 or the decoder circuit 41after temporarily storing the digital AV signal supplied from therecording/reproducing means 30 in the buffer RAM 22, to thereby ensurecontinues recording or continuous reproduction of the AV signal.

The buffer RAM 22 is a device which has a function as a register to readout temporarily saved data in accordance with a necessity.

The recording/reproducing means 30 is means of recording the digital AVsignal received from the buffer control circuit 21 on the disk 31, andreproducing the digital AV signal recorded on the disk 31 and outputtingto the buffer control circuit 21.

The encoder circuit 40 is a circuit which comprises an input terminalfor receiving a digital AV signal (not shown) and encodes an inputtedanalog AV signal.

The decoder circuit 41 is a circuit which decodes the digital AV signaloutputted by the recording/reproducing means 30 and supplies the analogAV signal to a reproducing apparatus (not shown) to thereby reproduceimages and sounds.

Recording area setting means 50 is means which sets up a plurality oflogical recording areas on the disk 31 whose capacity is 100 GB.

File management means 60 is means of referring to and updating free areamanagement information, recording file management information, deletionfile selecting criteria information and the like to thereby managereproduction, saving, deletion, etc., of files, issuing an instructionto the system controller 20 so that an entered digital AV signal isrecorded on the disk 31 in the unit of files and the digital AV signalrecorded on the disk 31 is reproduced in the unit of files. Further, thefile management means 60 issues an instruction to the system controller20 so that the digital AV signal recorded on the disk 31 is deleted inthe unit of files. The free area management information, the recordingfile management information, and the deletion file selecting criteriainformation according to the first preferred embodiment will bedescribed later.

Deletion file selecting criteria information setting means 61 is meanswhich is for a user to set up deletion file selecting criteriainformation which is for selecting a file which is to be deleted as newdata are written (hereinafter referred to as a “delete candidate”) foreach recording area which is set up by the recording area setting means50.

Data classification information setting means 62 is means which is for auser to set up data classification information which is for setting up aclassification of data which are to be written for each recording areawhich is set up by the recording area setting means 50.

Display/manipulation means 70 is means which comprises a displayingportion, which displays to outside that it is impossible to write newdata when the file management means 60 determines that it is impossibleto write the new data, and a manipulation portion which acceptsmanipulations from outside in response to such a display.

The digital AV equipment 80 is equipment which supplies the digital AVsignal, an instruction and a response to and receives the digital AVsignal, the instruction and the response from the interface circuit 10of the data recording/reproducing apparatus.

Operations of the data recording/reproducing apparatus according to thefirst preferred embodiment having such a structure will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 1 through 12. FIG. 2 shows charts of dataclassification information and deletion file selecting criteriainformation according to the first preferred embodiment, while FIG. 3shows a chart of free area management information according to the firstpreferred embodiment.

In response to an instruction from a user, the recording area settingmeans 50 provides, through the file management means 60, the systemcontroller 20 with an instruction for setting up three logical recordingareas AID1, AID2 and AID3 on the disk 31.

Upon receipt of the instruction from the recording area setting means50, the system controller 20 sets up the three logical recording areasAID1, AID2 and AID3 on the disk 31. In the first preferred embodiment,recording capacities of the recording areas AID1, AID2 and AID3 are 80GB, 10 GB and 10 GB, respectively. The system controller 20 notifies thefile management means 60 that the three logical recording areas AID1,AID2 and AID3 are set up on the disk 31.

The file management means 60 holds free area management information asthat shown in FIG. 3 which contains a recording capacity, a recordedcapacity and the capacity of a free area (hereinafter referred to as a“free capacity”).

In response to an instruction from a user, the data classificationinformation setting means 62 provides the file management means 60 withdata classification information which is for setting up a classificationof data which are to be written for each one of the recording areasAID1, AID2 and AID3. In short, the data classification informationsetting means 62 notifies the file management means 60 of setup whichallows writing of video data in the recording area AID1. Meanwhile, thedata classification information setting means 62 notifies the filemanagement means 60 of setup which allows writing of audio data in therecording area AID2. Further, the data classification informationsetting means 62 notifies the file management means 60 of setup whichallows writing of only still image data in the recording area AID3. Thedata classification information in the first preferred embodiment is asshown in FIG. 2.

In response to an instruction from a user, the deletion file selectingcriteria information setting means 61 provides the file management means60 with deletion file selecting criteria information which is forselecting a file which is to be deleted as new data are written, foreach one of the recording areas AID1, AID2 and AID3. In other words, thedeletion file selecting criteria information setting means 61 notifiesthe file management means 60 of setup which allows priority deletion, inthe recording area AID1, of a file which bears the number of viewing of1 or larger and the earliest recording start time. Meanwhile, thedeletion file selecting criteria information setting means 61 notifiesthe file management means 60 of setup which allows priority deletion, inthe recording area AID2, of a file which bears the earliest recordingstart time. Further, the deletion file selecting criteria informationsetting means 61 notifies the file management means 60 of setup whichdoes not allow automatic deletion of a file by the file management means60 at all in the recording area AID3. The deletion file selectingcriteria information in the first preferred embodiment is as shown inFIG. 2.

Next, a description will be given on operations of the datarecording/reproducing apparatus according to the first preferredembodiment as the digital AV equipment 80 receives data as a signal. Thedata are still image data to be saved in the recording area AID3 as afile FID1 whose size is 1 MB.

The digital AV equipment 80 outputs to the data recording/reproducingapparatus this data which are to be recorded and the volume of this datato be recorded, as a signal.

The system controller 20 analyzes the signal supplied from the digitalAV equipment 80, and notifies the file management means 60 that thisdata are data which are to be saved as a 1 MB file.

The file management means 60 holds the data classification informationas that shown in FIG. 2 which is for setting up a classification of datawhich are to be written for each one of the recording areas AID1, AID2and AID3. Hence, the file management means 60 determines that it isnecessary to write the data received as the signal through the digitalAV equipment 80 in the recording area AID3 which is set to be writtenwith still image data.

In addition, the file management means 60 holds the deletion fileselecting criteria information as that shown in FIG. 3 which contains arecording capacity, a recorded capacity and a free capacity. Hence, thefile management means 60 recognizes that the free capacity of therecording area AID3 is 10 GB which is larger than the size of the file(1 MB) which is to be saved.

The file management means 60 determines to save the data received as thesignal through the digital AV equipment 80 as the file FID1 in therecording area AID3, and orders the system controller 20 to executethis.

Upon receipt of the instruction from the file management means 60, thesystem controller 20 writes the data supplied from the digital AVequipment 80 as the file FID1 in the recording area AID3, and notifiesthe file management means 60 of this.

Receiving the notification from the digital AV equipment 80 as a signal,the file management means 60 updates the free area managementinformation shown in FIG. 3 into such free area management informationas that shown in FIG. 4. Further, reflecting the new recording of thefile FID1, the file management means 60 newly holds recording filemanagement information which contains recording area information, therecording start time, a file size and the number of viewing regardingthe file FID1 as those shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows charts of the freearea management information and the recording file managementinformation which are updated in the first preferred embodiment.

The system controller 20 in some cases outputs data saves as a file onthe disk 31, through the decoder circuit 41, in response to aninstruction from a user. The number of outputting is described as thenumber of viewing in the recording file management information.

The data recording/reproducing apparatus according to the firstpreferred embodiment writes data in accordance with setup specified bythe data classification information, in a manner described above. Anoperation for writing is similar to the writing operation alreadydescribed earlier, when a free capacity in a predetermined recordingarea is larger than the size of data which are to be newly written.

The data recording/reproducing apparatus according to the firstpreferred embodiment in this manner keeps writing data on the disk 31which is loaded in the recording/reproducing means 30, so that filesFID5, FID8 and FID9 are saved in the recording area AID1. Meanwhile,files FID4, FID6, FID7, . . . , FID998 are saved in the recording areaAID2. In the recording area AID3, files FID1, FID2, FID3, . . . , FID999are saved.

As a result of this, the free area management information held by thefile management means 60 is updated, whereby the file management means60 holds such free area management information as that shown in FIG. 5which contains the recording capacities, recorded capacities and freecapacities of the recording areas AID1, AID2 and AID3. FIG. 5 shows achart and a diagram showing the free area management information whichis updated in the first preferred embodiment. For instance, therecording capacity, the recorded capacity and the free capacity of therecording area AID1 are 80 GB, 60 GB and 20 GB, respectively.

In addition, the recording file management information held by the filemanagement means 60 is updated, whereby the file management means 60holds such recording file management information as that shown in FIG. 6which contains recording area information, the recording start time, thefile sizes and the number of viewing regarding these files. FIG. 6 showscharts of the recording file management information which is updated inthe first preferred embodiment. For instance, the recording areainformation, the recording start time, the file size and the number ofviewing regarding the file FID5 are L1, 2000/10/02/17:00 (that is,17:00, the 2nd of Oct., the year 2000), 10 GB and zero, respectively.

Next, a description will be given on operations of the datarecording/reproducing apparatus according to the first preferredembodiment as the digital AV equipment 80 receives new data further as asignal so that a free capacity becomes insufficient and a file needs betherefore deleted. The new data referred to here are video data whichare to be saved in the recording area AID1 as a file FID1000 whose sizeis 30 GB.

The digital AV equipment 80 outputs to the data recording/reproducingapparatus this new data which are to be recorded and the volume of thisdata to be recorded, as a signal.

The system controller 20 analyzes the signal supplied from the digitalAV equipment 80, and notifies the file management means 60 that this newdata are video data which are to be saved as a 30 GB file.

Referring to the data classification information as that shown in FIG.2, the file management means 60 determines that it is necessary torecord the video data signal from the digital AV equipment 80 in therecording area AID1 which is set as a video data recording area.

Further, referring to the free area management information as that shownin FIG. 5, the file management means 60 recognizes that the freecapacity of the recording area AID1 is 20 GB which is smaller than thesize of the file (30 GB) which is to be saved.

The file management means 60 holds the deletion file selecting criteriainformation as that shown in FIG. 2 which is for selecting a file whichis to be deleted as new data are written, for each one of the recordingareas AID1, AID2 and AID3. The file management means 60 recognizes thatthe file FID8 which bears the number of viewing of 1 or larger and theearliest recording time is a delete candidate, judges that it isnecessary to delete the file FID8 in order to write the data newlysupplied as the signal from the digital AV equipment 80 in the recordingarea AID1.

The file management means 60 determines to delete the file FID8 andensure a free area of 40 GB in total so that the data received as thesignal through the digital AV equipment 80 will be written in therecording area AID1 as the file FID1000. The file management means 60then demands the system controller 20 to execute this.

Receiving the instruction outputted as a signal from the file managementmeans 60, the system controller 20 deletes the file FID8 and writes thedata received through the digital AV equipment 80 in the recording areaAID1 as the file FID1000. The system controller 20 notifies the filemanagement means 60 of this.

Upon receipt of the notification from the system controller 20, the filemanagement means 60 updates the free area management information shownin FIG. 5 into such free area management information as that shown inFIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows a chart of the free area management informationwhich is updated in the first preferred embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7,a free capacity in the recording area AID1 is 10 GB.

In addition, the file management means 60 updates the recording filemanagement information shown in FIG. 6 into such recording filemanagement information as that shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 shows charts ofthe recording file management information which is updated in the firstpreferred embodiment. The recording area information, the recordingstart time, the file size and the number of viewing regarding the fileFID1000 are L1000, 2003/11/07/12:00, 30 GB and zero, respectively.

Next, a description will be given on operations of the datarecording/reproducing apparatus according to the first preferredembodiment as new data are supplied from the digital AV equipment 80further as a signal and a plurality of files are selected and deleted.The new data referred to here are audio data which are to be saved inthe recording area AID2 as a file FID1001 whose size is 9 MB.

The digital AV equipment 80 outputs to the data recording/reproducingapparatus this new data which are to be recorded and the volume of thisdata to be recorded, as a signal.

The system controller 20 analyzes the signal supplied from the digitalAV equipment 80, and notifies the file management means 60 that this newdata are audio data which are to be saved as a 9 MB file.

Referring to the data classification information as that shown in FIG.2, the file management means 60 determines that it is necessary torecord the audio data signal received from the digital AV equipment 80in the recording area AID2 which is set as a audio data recording area.

Further, referring to the free area management information as that shownin FIG. 7, the file management means 60 recognizes that the freecapacity in the recording area AID2 is 0 GB which is smaller than thesize of the file (9 MB) which is to be saved.

The file management means 60 holds the deletion file selecting criteriainformation as that shown in FIG. 2. The file management means 60recognizes that the file FID4 which bears the earliest recording starttime is a delete candidate and the file FID6 which bears the secondearliest recording start time is a second delete candidate. The filemanagement means 60 judges that it is necessary to delete these in orderto write the data newly supplied as the signal from the digital AVequipment 80 in the recording area AID2.

The file management means 60 determines to delete the files FID4 andFID6 and ensure a free area of 9 MB in total so that the data suppliedas the signal from the digital AV equipment 80 will be written in therecording area AID2 as the file FID1001. The file management means 60then demands the system controller 20 to execute this.

Receiving the instruction outputted as a signal from the file managementmeans 60, the system controller 20 deletes the files FID4 and FID6 andwrites the data supplied from the digital AV equipment 80 in therecording area AID2 as the file FID1001. The system controller 20notifies the file management means 60 of this.

Upon receipt of the notification from the system controller 20, the filemanagement means 60 updates the free area management information shownin FIG. 7 into such free area management information as that shown inFIG. 9. FIG. 9 shows a chart of the free area management informationwhich is updated in the first preferred embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9,a free capacity in the recording area AID2 becomes 0 GB. In addition,the file management means 60 updates the recording file managementinformation shown in FIG. 8 into such recording file managementinformation shown as that shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 shows a chart of therecording file management information shown which is updated in thefirst preferred embodiment.

Next, a description will be given on operations of the datarecording/reproducing apparatus according to the first preferredembodiment as new data are supplied from the digital AV equipment 80further as a signal but the file management means 60 is not allowedautomatic deletion. The new data referred to here are video data whichare to be saved in the recording area AID1 as a file FID1002 whose sizeis 30 GB.

The digital AV equipment 80 outputs to the data recording/reproducingapparatus this new data which are to be recorded and the volume of thisdata to be recorded, as a signal. The system controller 20 analyzes thesignal supplied from the digital AV equipment 80, and notifies the filemanagement means 60 that this new data are video data which are to besaved as a 30 GB file.

The file management means 60 determines that it is necessary to recordin the recording area AID1 which is set as a video data recording area,since the signal received from the digital AV equipment 80 representsvideo data. Further, referring to the free area management informationwhich is shown also in FIG. 9, the file management means 60 recognizesthat a free capacity in the recording area AID1 is 10 GB which issmaller than the size of the file (30 GB) which is to be newly saved.

The file management means 60 holds the deletion file selecting criteriainformation as that shown in FIG. 2. However, since the number ofviewing of the files FID5, FID9 and FID1000 saved in the recording areaAID1 is equally zero, the file management means 60 can not recognize afile which bears the number of viewing of 1 or larger and the earliestrecording start time as a delete candidate.

The file management means 60 causes the display/manipulation means 70 todisplay, in the displaying portion, that it is not possible to recognizea delete candidate.

As a user designates the file FID5 as a delete candidate based on thedisplayed information, the manipulation portion of thedisplay/manipulation means 70 provides the file management means 60 withan instruction designating the file FID9 as a delete candidate, in theform of a signal.

The file management means 60 receives the instruction received throughthe display/manipulation means 70 which designates the file FID5 as adelete candidate.

However, the sum of the size of the file FID5 designated as a deletecandidate and the free capacity (10 GB) of the recording area AID1 is 20GB which is smaller than the size of the file (30 GB) which is to benewly saved.

Referring to the deletion file selecting criteria information which isshown also in FIG. 2, the file management means 60 tries to recognize afile which bears the number of viewing of 1 or larger and the earliestrecording start time as a delete candidate, other than the file FID5which is designated as a delete candidate.

However, the number of viewing of the files FID9 and FID1000 saved inthe recording area AID1 other than the file FID5 which is designated asa delete candidate is both zero.

The file management means 60 causes the display/manipulation means 70 todisplay, in the displaying portion, that it is not possible to recognizea second delete candidate.

As a user designates the file FID9 as a second delete candidate based onthe displayed information, the manipulation portion of thedisplay/manipulation means 70 provides the file management means 60 withan instruction designating the file FID9 as a second delete candidate,in the form of a signal.

The file management means 60 receives the instruction received throughthe display/manipulation means 70 which designates the file FID9 as asecond delete candidate.

The file management means 60 determines to delete the files FID5 andFID9 and ensure a free area of 50 GB in total so that the data fed asthe signal from the digital AV equipment 80 will be written in therecording area AID1 as the file FID1002. The file management means 60then demands the system controller 20 to execute this.

Receiving the instruction outputted as a signal from the file managementmeans 60, the system controller 20 deletes the files FID5 and FID9 andwrites the data inputted through the digital AV equipment 80 in therecording area AID1 as the file FID1002. The system controller 20notifies the file management means 60 of this.

Upon receipt of the notification from the system controller 20, the filemanagement means 60 updates the free area management information shownin FIG. 9 into such free area management information as that shown inFIG. 11. FIG. 11 shows a chart of the free area management informationwhich is updated in the first preferred embodiment. In addition, thefile management means 60 updates the recording file managementinformation shown in FIG. 10 into such recording file managementinformation shown as that shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 12 shows a chart of therecording file management information shown which is updated in thefirst preferred embodiment.

In this manner, it is possible to execute management, such as saving anddeletion of files, appropriately by data type.

Second Preferred Embodiment

First, a structure of a data recording/reproducing apparatus accordingto a second preferred embodiment will be described with reference toFIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a structure diagram of the datarecording/reproducing apparatus according to the second preferredembodiment.

File management means 160 is means of referring to free area managementinformation, recording file management information, deletion fileselecting criteria information and the like to thereby manage saving,deletion, etc., of files.

Deletion file selecting criteria information setting means 161 is meanswhich is for a user to set up deletion file selecting criteriainformation which is for selecting a delete candidate in each recordingarea which is set up by the recording area setting means 150.

Data classification information setting means 162 is means which is fora user to set up a classification of data which are to be written foreach recording area which is set up by the recording area setting means150.

Display/manipulation means 170 is means which comprises a displayingportion, which displays to outside that it is impossible to write newdata when the file management means 60 can not write the new data, and amanipulation portion which accepts manipulations from outside inresponse to such a display.

Operations of the data recording/reproducing apparatus according to thesecond preferred embodiment having such a structure will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 13 through 17. FIG. 14 shows charts of dataclassification information and deletion file selecting criteriainformation according to the second preferred embodiment.

In response to an instruction from a user, the recording area settingmeans 150 provides the recording/reproducing means 30 with aninstruction for setting up two logical recording areas AID1, AID2 on thedisk 31. The recording/reproducing means 30, receiving the instructionfrom the recording area setting means 150, sets up the two logicalrecording areas AID1, AID2 on the disk 31. The recording capacities ofthe recording areas AID1 and AID2 are 20 GB and 80 GB, respectively. Therecording/reproducing means 30 notifies the file management means 160that the two logical recording areas AID1, AID2 are set up on the disk31.

In response to an instruction from a user, the data classificationinformation setting means 162 provides the file management means 160with the data classification information which is for setting up aclassification of data which are to be written for each one of therecording areas AID1 and AID2. The data classification information inthe second preferred embodiment contains detailed setup for furtherclassifying and grouping files (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the“detailed data classification”) in the recording areas AID1 and AID2.

That is, the data classification information setting means 162 notifiesthe file management means 160 of such setup which causes writing of onlyaudio data in the recording area AID1 and grouping of files to be savedin the recording area AID1 having the same recording date. The dataclassification information setting means 162 also notifies the filemanagement means 160 of such setup which causes writing of only videodata in the recording area AID2 and grouping of files to be saved in therecording area AID2 having the same number of viewing.

In response to an instruction from a user, the deletion file selectingcriteria information setting means 161 provides the file managementmeans 160 with the deletion file selecting criteria information which isfor selecting a file which is to be deleted as new data are written foreach one of the recording areas AID1 and AID2. The deletion fileselecting criteria information in the second preferred embodimentcontains detailed setup for deleting a plurality of files all at once ineach one of the recording areas AID1 and AID2.

In short, the deletion file selecting criteria information setting means161 notifies the file management means 160 of such setup which causesen-masse deletion, in the recording area AID 1, of files which belongsto the same group as a file whose recording time is earliest. Further,the deletion file selecting criteria information setting means 161notifies the file management means 160 of such setup which causesen-masse deletion, in the recording area AID2, of files which belongs tothe same group as a file which bears the largest number of viewing.

The data recording/reproducing apparatus according to the secondpreferred embodiment writes data in accordance with setup designated bythe data classification information, when a free capacity in apredetermined recording area is larger than the size of data which areto be newly written. An operation for writing is similar to the writingoperation already described in the section “(First PreferredEmbodiment)” in detail above.

The data recording/reproducing apparatus according to the secondpreferred embodiment in this manner keeps writing data on the disk 31which is loaded in the recording/reproducing means 30, so that filesFID1, FID2, . . . , FID999 are saved in the recording area AID1.Meanwhile, the files FID6, FID7, . . . , FID998 are saved in therecording area AID2.

The file management means 160 holds the free area management informationand the recording file management information. The free area managementinformation contains a recording capacity, a recorded capacity and afree capacity, while the recording file management information containsrecording area information, the recording start time, a file size, thenumber of viewing and a detailed data classification, both of which areas shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 15 shows charts of the free area managementinformation and the recording file management information updated in thesecond preferred embodiment. For instance, in the recording area AID1,the files FID1, FID2 and FID3 having the same recording date (which is2000/01/02) belong to a group GID1.

Next, a description will be given on operations of the datarecording/reproducing apparatus according to the second preferredembodiment as new data are supplied from the digital AV equipment 80further as a signal. The new data referred to here are audio data whichare to be saved in the recording area AID1 as a file FID1000 whose sizeis 13 MB.

The digital AV equipment 80 outputs to the data recording/reproducingapparatus this data which are to be recorded and the volume of this datato be recorded, as a signal. The system controller 20 analyzes thesignal supplied from the digital AV equipment 80, and notifies the filemanagement means 160 that this data are audio data which are to be savedas a 13 MB file.

Referring to the data classification information as shown in FIG. 14,the file management means 160 determines that it is necessary to recordthe audio data signal received from the digital AV equipment 80 in therecording area AID1 which is set as a audio data recording area.

Further, referring to the free area management information as that shownin FIG. 15, the file management means 160 recognizes that a freecapacity in the recording area AID1 is 0 GB which is smaller than thesize of the file (13 MB) which is to be newly saved.

As shown in FIG. 15, files in the recording area AID1 having the samerecording date as the file FID1 whose recording time is earliest aregrouped as the group GID1 in accordance with the setup designated by thedata classification information which is shown in FIG. 14.

Referring to the deletion file selecting criteria information shown inFIG. 14, the file management means 160 recognizes that the files FID1,FID2 and FID3 belonging to the group GID1 are delete candidates.

The file management means 160 determines to delete the files FID1, FID2and FID3 and ensure a free area of 13 MB in total so that the datareceived as the signal through the digital AV equipment 80 will bewritten in the recording area AID1 as the file FID1000. The filemanagement means 160 demands the system controller 20 to execute this.

Receiving the instruction outputted as a signal from the file managementmeans 160, the system controller 20 deletes the files FID1, FID2 andFID3 and writes the data supplied from the digital AV equipment 80 inthe recording area AID1 as the file FID1000. The system controller 20notifies the file management means 160 of this.

Upon receipt of the notification from the system controller 20, the filemanagement means 160 updates the free area management information andthe recording file management information shown in FIG. 15 into suchfree area management information and such recording file managementinformation as those shown in FIG. 16. FIG. 16 shows charts of the freearea management information and the recording file managementinformation updated in the second preferred embodiment.

Next, a description will be given on operations of the datarecording/reproducing apparatus according to the second preferredembodiment as the digital AV equipment 80 receives new data as a signal.The new data referred to here are video data to be saved in therecording area AID2 as a file FID 1001 whose size is 5 GB.

The system controller 20 analyzes the signal supplied from the digitalAV equipment 80, and notifies the file management means 160 that thisnew data are video data which are to be saved as a 5 GB file.

Referring to the data classification information as shown in FIG. 14,the file management means 160 determines that it is necessary to recordthe signal supplied from the digital AV equipment 80 in the recordingarea AID2.

Further, referring to the free area management information as that shownin FIG. 16, the file management means 160 recognizes that a freecapacity in the recording area AID2 is 2 GB which is smaller than thesize of the file (5 GB) which is to be newly saved.

As shown in FIG. 16, files in the recording area AID2 having the largestnumber of viewing are grouped as a group GID3 in accordance with thesetup designated by the data classification information which is shownin FIG. 14. Since the files having the same number of viewing aregrouped in this manner, a dialogue with a user as described in thesection “(First Preferred Embodiment)” is not necessary in the followingoperations.

Referring to the deletion file selecting criteria information shown inFIG. 14, the file management means 160 recognizes that the files FID6and FID7 belonging to the group GID3 are delete candidates.

The file management means 160 determines to delete the files FID6 andFID7 and ensure a free area of 6 GB in total so that the data receivedas the signal through the digital AV equipment 80 will be written in therecording area AID2 as the file FID 1001. The file management means 160demands the system controller 20 to execute this.

Receiving the instruction outputted as a signal from the file managementmeans 160, the system controller 20 deletes the files FID6 and FID7 andwrites the data supplied through the digital AV equipment 80 in therecording area AID2 as the file FID1001. The system controller 20notifies the file management means 160 of this. Upon receipt of thenotification from the system controller 20, the file management means160 updates the free area management information and the recording filemanagement information shown in FIG. 16 into such free area managementinformation and such recording file management information as thoseshown in FIG. 17. FIG. 17 shows charts of the free area managementinformation and the recording file management information updated in thesecond preferred embodiment.

As the plurality of unnecessary files are deleted appropriately at oncein this manner, it is possible to ensure a large free area without fail.

The disk 31 in the present invention needs not be set up with logicalrecording areas in a manner as described above in relation to thepreferred embodiments, but may be set up with any desired number oflogical recording areas each having any desired recording capacity.

Further, the input terminal for receiving an analog AV signal (notshown) of the encoder circuit 40 according to the present invention maybe connected with a signal input apparatus which can receive an analogAV signal.

Still further as shown in FIG. 18, the interface circuit 10 may beconnected with a PC (Personal Computer) 180 which is connected with anSTB (Set Top Box, satellite broadcasting receiver) 181 via an IEEE1394bus. FIG. 18 is a diagram of a data recording/reproducing apparatus andperipheral equipment described in relation to the preferred embodimentsof the present invention.

In addition, the data classification information in the presentinvention needs not be set up utilizing the dedicated dataclassification information setting means as in the preferred embodimentsabove. Information which is set by means of manipulations on a key boardof the PC 180 (as that shown in FIG. 18) may be received as a commandparameter from the PC 180 and set as the data classificationinformation.

Moreover, the deletion file selecting criteria information in thepresent invention needs not be set up utilizing the dedicated deletionfile selecting criteria information setting means as in the preferredembodiments above. Information which is set by means of manipulations ona key board of the PC 180 (as that shown in FIG. 18) may be received asa command parameter from the PC 180 and set as the deletion fileselecting criteria information.

Although the volume of data to be recorded is inputted together with thedata to be recorded in the data recording/reproducing apparatusaccording to the present invention, the volume of the data to berecorded may not be inputted. In a case that the volume of the data tobe recorded is not entered, the data recording/reproducing apparatusaccording to the present invention records data coming from the digitalAV equipment 80 progressively as files on the disk 31. The filemanagement means 60 checks a free capacity in a demanded recording area,and when the free capacity becomes smaller than a predetermined value,the file management means 60 selects and deletes a file so as to ensurea free capacity which is equal to or larger than the predeterminedvalue.

Further, the data classification in the data classification informationin the present invention need not be video data, audio data and stillimage data as in the preferred embodiments above, but may be anyconcepts which are dependent upon the contents of data, for instance, asfar as the concepts realize a classification of data.

Further, the detailed data classification in the data classificationinformation in the present invention need not be the recording date andthe number of viewing as in the preferred embodiments above, but may beany concepts which are dependent upon the contents of data, forinstance, as far as the concepts realize a classification of data.

Further, the deletion file selecting criteria in the deletion fileselecting criteria information in the present invention need not be thenumber of viewing, the recording time and prohibition or a combinationof these with the detailed data classification as in the preferredembodiments above, but may be any concepts which are dependent upon thecontents of data or a combination of this with the detailed dataclassification, for instance, as far as the concepts provide thedeletion file selecting criteria.

Further, the detailed data classification information and the deletionfile selecting criteria information in the present invention need notremain unchanged after setup as in the preferred embodiments above, butmay be changed freely any time.

The present invention also covers a medium which is characterized inthat it can be processed with a computer and carries a program and/ordata for executing with a computer all or some functions of all or somemeans of the data recording/reproducing apparatus according to thepresent invention.

The present invention further covers an aggregation of information whichis characterized in being a program and/or data for executing with acomputer all or some functions of all or some means of the datarecording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

The present invention is directed to a medium which carries a programand/or data for executing with a computer all or some functions of allor some means of the data recording/reproducing apparatus according tothe present invention described above, and the medium can be read with acomputer and causes the program and/or data which is read to execute thefunctions while working together with the computer.

The present invention is directed also to an aggregation of informationwhich is program and/or data for executing with a computer all or somefunctions of all or some means of the data recording/reproducingapparatus according to the present invention described above, and theaggregation of information can be read with a computer and causes theprogram and/or data which is read to execute the functions while workingtogether with the computer.

Data as referred to in the present invention include a data structure, adata format, a data type, etc.

A medium as referred to in the present invention can be a recordingmedium such as a ROM, a transmission medium such as the Internet, and atransmission medium such as light, an electric wave and a sonic wave.

A medium which carries as referred to in the present invention can be arecording medium in which a program and/or data is recorded, atransmission medium which transmits a program and/or data, and the like.

To be able to be processed with a computer as referred to in the presentinvention includes, in the case of a recording medium such as a ROM, forinstance, that it is possible to read with a computer, and in the caseof a transmission medium, that a program and/or data which is to betransmitted can be handled with a computer.

An aggregation of information as referred to in the present inventionincludes software, for instance, such as a program and/or data.

Further, as described above, the structures according to the presentinvention may be realized by means of software or hardware.

INDUSTRIAL USE

As clear from the foregoing, the first invention corresponding to claim1 provides a data recording/reproducing apparatus which is characterizedin executing appropriate management, such as saving and deletion offiles, in accordance with a data type.

The second invention corresponding to claim 2 provides a datarecording/reproducing apparatus which is characterized in moreappropriately saving and deleting a file, in addition to the effectabove.

The third invention corresponding to claim 3 provides a datarecording/reproducing apparatus which is characterized in moreappropriately selecting and deleting an unnecessary file, in addition tothe effects above.

The fourth invention corresponding to claim 4 provides a datarecording/reproducing apparatus which is characterized in ensuring afree area without fail, in addition to the effects above.

The fifth invention corresponding to claim 5 provides a datarecording/reproducing apparatus which is characterized in classifyingfiles in details, in addition to the effects above.

The sixth invention corresponding to claim 6 provides a medium which ischaracterized in executing appropriate management, such as saving anddeletion of files, in accordance with a data type, and management ofdata which are to be transmitted.

The seventh invention corresponding to claim 7 provides an aggregationof information which is characterized in obtaining the effects above bymeans of execution with a computer.

1. A data recording/reproducing apparatus, comprising: recording areasetting means of setting a plurality of logical recording areas in arecording medium which is for recording and reproducing data; and filemanagement means which refers to free area management information, whichis for managing a free area capacity for each one of said recordingareas, recording file management information, which is for managing afile to be recorded for each one of said recording areas, and deletionfile selecting criteria information, which is for selecting a file to bedeleted for each one of said recording areas, and executes management ofsaid files, wherein for writing of new data in a predetermined recordingarea, when said file management means judges that a free area forwriting said new data is insufficient with reference to said free areamanagement information, said file management means, referring to saiddeletion file selecting criteria information, deletes a portion or allof at least one file which is recorded in said predetermined recordingarea or does not execute an operation for writing said new data, saiddeletion file selecting criteria information includes a deletioncriteria based on a number of times a data file has been viewed, saidfile management means includes setting the number of times each of thestored data files has been viewed, and said file management meansdeletes the at least one file, if (i) a predetermined storage capacityavailable for the free area is smaller than an amount of data requiredto store said new data and (ii) the deletion criteria is satisfied whichis based on the number of times a data file has been viewed, and thenumber of times the data file has been viewed is greater than one.
 2. Adata recording/reproducing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, whereinwhen not executing writing of said new data, said file management meansnotifies to outside that writing of said new data is not executed, andaccepts an instruction in response to the notification from outside. 3.A data recording/reproducing apparatus in accordance with claim 1,including deletion file selecting criteria information setting meanswhich is for a user to set up said deletion file selecting criteriainformation for each one of said recording areas.
 4. A datarecording/reproducing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidfiles are grouped in accordance with a predetermined criteria, said filemanagement means, when deleting a portion or all of at least one filewhich is recorded in said predetermined recording area, deletes the filewhich is to be deleted as well as other files which belong to the samegroup as the file which is to be deleted.
 5. A datarecording/reproducing apparatus in accordance with any one of claim 1through claim 4, wherein a classification of said data which are to bewritten is different for each one of said recording areas, and said datarecording/reproducing apparatus comprises data classificationinformation setting means which is for a user to set up, for each one ofsaid recording areas, data classification information which is forsetting up a classification of data which are to be written.
 6. A mediumwhich is handled with a computer and carries a program which is forexecuting, with a computer, functions of a data recording/reproducingapparatus in accordance with any one of claim 1 through claim
 4. 7. Aprogram for executing, with a computer, functions of a datarecording/reproducing apparatus in accordance with any one of claim 1through claim
 4. 8. In a data recording/reproducing apparatus, a methodof managing data in a recording medium for recording and reproducingdata, comprising the steps of: (a) partitioning the recording mediuminto a plurality of recording areas, each having a predetermined storagecapacity, in which each area defines a predetermined type of data; (b)assigning a deletion criteria for each of the respective areas definedin step (a), the deletion criteria including a number of times a datafile has been viewed; (c) storing at least one data file of apredetermined type of data in a respective one of the areas defined instep (a), and setting the number of times each of the stored data fileshas been viewed; (d) determining storage capacity available for thedefined area storing the at least one data file stored in step (c); (e)providing another data file of the predetermined type of data forstorage in the defined area storing the at least one data file stored instep (c); and (f) deleting a stored data file stored in step (c), if (i)the predetermined storage capacity available for the one area is smallerthan an amount of data required to store the other data file and (ii)the deletion criteria satisfies the deletion criteria assigned in step(b) wherein step (c) includes viewing the stored data files, and step(f) includes determining the stored data file has been viewed more timesthan the other stored data files and viewed in excess of one time, anddeleting the stored data file determined to have been viewed more timesthan the other stored data files, wherein the stored data file has beenviewed in excess of one time.